Balto: Story of a wolf

DISCLAIMER: I don't own any of the characters from the movie. OCs are my own.

NOTE:

Balto is a full bred wolf with same characteristics as from the movie.

Chapter 1: Running

Balto ran as fast as he could. He knew hunters were close behind him and he needed to get as far away as possible. The barking of dogs could be heard a way off behind him but he dared not look lest he wanted to risk taking a spill, so he did the only thing he could and that was run as fast as he could pushing himself to the limit to escape being the hunted.

Flashback

The day had started like any other for Balto, he had awoken and headed out with a hunting party to track down a proposed prey animal for the pack. Halfway through the hunt the Alpha had sensed an odor every wolf had ingrained into them since birth... the scent of dogs. Calling off the hunt rather than risk the pack's security they had barley reached the den when the first shot had rung out a short distance behind them. The Alpha's orders were swift and simple... provide cover while the mothers and pups ran to safety. The males had stood their ground as the first of the dogs appeared... a grey and white malamute closely followed by a mix of huskies and malamutes.

The standoff had been taxing to say the least. Though outnumbered Balto and the rest managed to hold their own untill the human masters carrying their exploding sticks as the pack called them arrived. The fortune was immediately in favour of the hunters as they had picked off the pack members from a distance away. As the numbers diminished only two choices remained either be killed or try and make a run for it.

End of flashback

Now here he was running for his life, heading towards a destination unknown not daring to stop or slow down lest they were tracking him. As he ran his mind turned back to events that had occured 6 winters ago.

Flashback (3rd person POV)

A wolf ran through the winter storm. She had been running for hours carrying what looked like a month old pup in her mouth. Her pack had been mercilessly killed off by hunters and she was trying to escape to save her sons life. The wolf was of sizeable stature, towering at least a head over a full grown malamute with fur white as the snow around her. She had been running for miles and couldn't hear their persuers any more. Taking this opportunity she quickly found a cave big enough for her to squeeze into and carefully put her pup on the ground. The pup shivering from the cold and fear instinctively snuggled into his mother seeking the confort she always provided him.

But this was not to last, the mother knew that they would be found and she needed to get the hunters away from her son. She had made her decision, turning to her son she spoke " Balto, mama needs to find food so we can eat. I will come back as soon as i find something to eat. Do not exit this cave untill i come back. Got it?" The month old Balto looked up from where he was snuggled up against his mother and whimpered out"Pweese don't go... I scared... Mama pweese stay." Hearing this broke her heart but she knew that for him to survive she would have to lead them away. SO she replied "Balto, we need food. I promise i will come back and we will enjoy a nice meal together." She couldn't bear to tell him the truth, not with him at such a young age, so she had to lie. Balto whimpered in protest not wanting his mother to leave him alone but had to reluctantly agree. With a final nuzzle to her son she headed out of the cave with the sole purpose of leading the hunters away from her son. Little Balto never realised that the nuzzle he shared with his mom would be the last he would ever have with her. That night Balto slept huddled in the corner scared at being alone in the cave with no sign of his mother.

He awoke the next morning looking for his mother but she was not in the cave. He decided to patiently wait for her promised arrival with food but as morning turned to afternoon and then dusk there was no sign of her. Balto fell asleep curled into a ball wishing that his mother would return soon. He did not care about if she brought food or not he just wished to snuggle upto her and seek the confort, warmth and security she provided him. The next day arrived and there was still no sign of here arrival. Tired of waiting the young pup stumbled his way out of the cave to look for his mother. The snow storm had covered any and all tracks and he was still too young to know how to track. So he walked off in a general direction looking left and right as he cried out "MAMA!" hoping that she would come to his call and he would get the warmth and security he missed so badly. As the day wore on hopelessness set in for young Balto but he didnot give up, still wandering aimlessly through the woods calling out for his lost mother.

It was not untill two days later that he caught sight of a white wolf like creature in the fading light of the evening. Bring his hopes up the starving and weak pup stumbled as fast as he could towards the animal shouting "MAMA!" with everything he had. The wolf hearing his calls turned around and saw the little grey pup approach her shouting for his mother.

As Balto came uto her doubt filled his mind yet he asked the one thing that was in his mind "MAMA?" The wolf slowly lowered herself to his level and thats when Balto realised that she wasn't the person he was looking for. All hope lost, he felt tears flood into his eyes realising that he would probably never see his mother ever again. The elder wolf slowly approached the heart broken cub examining him from all sides before asking "Whats your name young one?" Balto looked up at the wolf tears seeping out of his eyes as he managed to choke out "M..my n...n..name B...Balto." Knowing what the cub was seeking she gently nuzzled him and spoke "Well Balto lets get you something to eat and then we will look for your mother." Balto's ears immediately perked up "R..really?" he asked suddenly filled with hope. Seeing the pups reaction the wolf nodded and replied "I promise" before gently picking up the pup and heading off to what would become his new home.

Flashback end.

Balto could not believe his luck the very incident that had torn him apart from his mother had now torn him apart from his adoptive pack and here he was again running for his life. Balto ran through the night not caring to stop untill he was sure the distance was enough. It was late afternoon of the next day that he started to feel the effects of fatigue set in as his adrenaline finally washed out of his system. The forest around him started to clear into flat open land with the smell of salt water floating in the air.

As he ran further across the clearing he felt dark spots appear in front of him yet he pushed himself untill finally he tripped, flipped over and landed hard on the snowy ground. He tried to stand and run but his strength failed him. His entire body ached. his muscles sore from the marathon sprint away from danger. He felt himself blacking out. The last thing he remembered was someone approaching him and him being picked up before everything faded into oblivion.